Regional Environmental Impact Assessment of Renewable Energy System in California

Abstract

Fossil-fuel based energy systems pose a great threat to the climate and ecosystem. Renewable energy is considered the key to achieve carbon neutrality and Sustainable Development Goals. California is a forerunner in promoting renewable energy and sustainable development. In this study, we conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) on the renewable energy system of California between 2001 and 2019, assessing the abiotic resource depletion potential (ADP), global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), acidification potential (AP), photochemical oxidant formation potential (POFP), and eutrophication potential (EP), respectively . We show that solar energy and biomass and waste-to-energy were the main contributors to the overall life cycle impacts of California renewable energy system during 2001-2019, which accounted for 9.0%±1.2% and 90.7%±1.2%, respectively. Impacts on AP, POFP, EP and GWP from these two renewable sources are particularly evident. Geographically, Kern currently holds the most renewable energy generation (15.3 TWh in 2019) in the state, but Los Angeles has the highest environmental impact (1.2E-0.5 in 2019) due to a larger portion of waste-to-energy system. Renewable energy are essential for decarbonization, but the environmental impacts of certain sources, such as solar energy and waste-to-energy, demand further reduction through technology advancement and improved resource management.